AN: I've been sick for a couple of days. It doesn't stop me from writing, but it does slow down the process. Well, I feel a bit better now and hope to have chapter 22 up Friday or Saturday.

Chapter 21: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

"So, what are we doing today? "Kol asked cheerfully, as he entered the kitchen Monday morning, where Darwin, Finn, and Elijah were sitting at the kitchen table.

Darwin smiled at Kol over a cup of herbal tea. "You and Rebekah are going to the Library with me today."

"Shag me rotten, that sounds boring!"

Elijah sighed irritably. "No more Austin Powers for you."

"Why?" Kol slipped into a chair. "Am I bothering you and your Mini-Me?"

"You are bothering everyone. Have you ever heard of keeping a low profile?"

"Yes! I have heard of that! I believe it's something less attractive people do ..."

This time, Finn sighed, looking almost as if Kol's words caused him physical pain. Darwin hid his smile with the tea-cup. Of all the people living in the house, Finn seemed to dislike it the most. He wasn't particularly sociable, and living with eight and sometimes nine other people was quite a challenge. He hadn't enjoyed living in a few rooms with his parents and siblings, when he was growing up and he didn't enjoy their constant presence now.

"Don't worry, Kol, I'll let you play with my computers, "Darwin said.

"Good morning." Rebekah entered with Claws in her arms, looking dishevelled and sleepy, but in a good mood. "What are you talking about?"

"Just that you and Kol are coming with me today."

Her mood immediately declined. "Why does he have to come?"

"Starting to get on your nerves, sis?" Kol leaned back in his chair, sending her a thoughtful look, "Or do I make you horny?"

"What?! Ew, no!"

"Rebekah, don't!" Finn jumped to his feet, as she lifted Claws over her head, obviously meaning to throw him at Kol.

She looked startled for a second, then remembered what she was holding. "Oh, right!"

"It's a miracle that cat is still alive, "Elijah remarked.

(Break)

Elijah and Finn dropped Stefan, Bonnie and Caroline off at school at 7.40. Then drove off to pick up Elena and Jeremy. Finn was driving with a look of pure concentration on his face. He drove slowly, but quite confidently.

Bonnie shook her head at them. "Would not have thought that possible a couple of days ago."

"Right, "the paranoia from the day before hadn't left Caroline entirely, "I don't know why, but I do not feel safe."

"Neither do I, "Bonnie agreed as they walked up to the school building, "I'd feel much better if Darwin could come with us..."

"Darwin?" Caroline repeated incredulously, "Compared to Klaus he is barely a mosquito."

Then she felt a hand on her shoulder. She emmidiately spun around, ready to lash out.

"Whoa, Caroline, it's me!"

She relaxed at the sight of Tyler, but only a little. "What do you want?"

He looked around, apparently feeling as paranoid as she did. But then again, he was on his own and she had four Originals to back her up.

"I just want to talk to you. Can we go somewhere private?"

"Whatever you have to say to me, you can say it in front of them." She nodded toward Bonnie and Stefan, who had placed themselves on either side of her like bodyguards.

"Fine, I just wanted to tell you that I'm leaving."

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I'm going to Florida with Jules."

"When are you coming back?"

He sighed. "I don't know if I ever am."

"Wait ... "she hadn't really had that many friendly thoughts of him the past couple of weeks, but for him to leave entirely ... They had been unusually close for awhile. "... Can't we talk about this? Maybe after school, we could..."

"I'm leaving right now. I'm sorry, Caroline."

"Alright, "she turned to look at Bonnie and Stefan, "You go on. I'll just walk Tyler to his car. Finn and Elijah will be here with Elena and Jeremy any minute."

"Ok, "they left, Stefan sending one suspicious look over his shoulder.

Caroline and Tyler walked in silence to his car. Once there, he leaned against it casually, giving her a strangely pleased smile. "I knew you would come with me."

"Well, I know we've had a fall-out, but I can't say I'm happy to see you leave."

"No, I was counting on that."

"Tyler, what's the matter? You're acting wierd." A shadow fell over her, and she turned around. A girl she had never seen before was standing right in front of her, smiling slyly. She looked back at Tyler. "What's going on?"

"Caroline, "he said pleasantly, "This is Greta."

"Greta? "Caroline looked at the girl again, then back at Tyler, "but she works for Klaus. Tyler ..."

"Don't worry about it, love."

Love?!

Realisation hit her and she backed away into Greta, who grabbed her shoulders. "You're not Tyler! You're ..."

She felt a hand against her temple and she everything went dark.

(Break)

Darwin put his phone back in his pocket, chewing nervously on his lower lip. "Stefan called. Caroline walked Tyler to his car and then she never showed up in class."

"Well, it's a school. Maybe she came to her senses and got the Hell out of there, "Kol suggested.

"I don't think that's it."

"Thorstar, I really can't figure this game out, "Kol complained for the hundreth time, "It's ridiculously complicated!"

Darwin snapped the journal, he had just picked up, shut and gave him an annoyed look. "It's Tetris. It's the most simple game on the planet."

"But I have to make all these decisions, I don't want to make. This way or that way, or ..."

They were sitting in the Library's Basement, Darwin trying to get some work done, Rebekah reading a copy of Ivanhoe, and Kol constantly complaining that he was either confused by modern technology or bored by it. Or both at once.

"Exactly how stupid are you, Kol? "Rebekah taunted, still reading.

"You know nothing about this game. You're simply jealous, because I'm prettier than you."

Kol did his best to sound superior, but it made Darwin slap a hand over his own mouth to keep from laughing. Kol was and had always been undeniably posh, but he lacked the air of authority his older brothers had. Probably as a result of being the youngest brother, who had had people walking right behind him, cleaning up his mess his entire life. He always seemed to invoke terror rather than respect.

"What the Hell? "Rebekah threw her book on the floor, "What's that got to do with anything?"

"Ah, so you admit it?"

"No!"

"And yet, you did not deny it."

Rebekah jumped to her feet. "Because it was ridiculous, you stupid git!"

"Be careful." Kol warned her. "You do not have a kitten to throw now."

"You leave Claws out of this!" Rebekah yelled, sprouting fangs. She crouched down, ready to jump at her brother, but Darwin placed himself between them.

"Rebekah, relax! Don't let him bait you." Darwin put a hand on her shoulder and coaxed her back into her chair, "I know we have spent a lot of time together these last couple of days, but we'll have at least try to get along, otherwise our living arrangement will be intolerable."

"Don't worry, "Kol said, "I won't bite ... hard."

Darwin rolled his eyes. "Will you stop with the Austin Powers quotes?"

Rebekah sent Kol one last scowl, then picked her book back up and started reading again. Kol shrugged and turned his attention back to the computer screen.

Darwin, realising disaster had been avoided, went over to Kol. "I'll put on another game ... Here, this is Counter-Strike. What do you want to be? A terrorist or a counter-terrorist?"

"Dumb question."

"Yeah well. Now you just shoot people." Darwin's phone started vibrating and he pulled it out of his pocket again. "Just one moment."

He checked the display. "Oh, it's from Niklaus!"

"What the Hell does he want?" Kol asked suspiciously.

"He has sent me a photo." Darwin opened the message, then paled. "Oh no ..."

"What?"

"He's got Caroline. Look." He handed the Iphone with the photo of an unconcious Caroline to Kol.

"Whoa, "Kol moved the phone around, seeming to consider the picture from all angles, "I see why Nik has taken her. She's very shagadelic."

Darwin took his Iphone out of his hands. "Kol ..."

"Sorry, "he held up his hands, "Won't do it again. I swear."

"We have to get back to the Boarding House."

(Break)

Caroline groaned as she woke. She opened her eyes, blinking in confusion. The ceiling seemed impossibly far away.

"Could you close your eyes again, love, I'm not quite done yet."

Caroline sat upright at the sound of the cultured, British accent. Klaus was sitting in an armchair right by the sofa she was sitting on. He was drawing in a scetchbook with a half-smile on is face.

"What the Hell happened?" She found herself in a large living room with expensive art and furniture; white silk, dark wood. Right ahead of her was a large fireplace in white marble.

"You swooned. And quite elegantly, I may add. So I brought you back to my house to recover."

She had a feeling that there had to be more to that story. She frowned, suddenly remembering. "You were in Tyler's body!"

"Very good." He put the scetchbook down.

She got up on her feet, feeling slightly nauseous. "What did you do to him?"

"Don't worry about him. He'll wake up in his own bed in a couple of hours." Klaus gestured at her. "Sit down. We can talk."

"Oh, no! "Caroline looked around for her bag, but it wasn't there. "I'm not staying here one minute longer!"

"Fine, "he said, still with that insanely cute half-smile plastered on his face, "you do what you want."

He picked the scetchbook back up and started drawing again, completely ignoring her.

She walked out of the room in a huff, coming into a large entrance hall and going straight to the door. She flung it open, and attempted to leave, but instead collided with an invisible barrier. Almost as if she was trying to enter a house she hadn't been invited into. But she was trying to leave...

"What ..?"

"Oh, did I forget to tell you? "Klaus was standing casually in the doorway to the living room. "I had Greta put up a spell. You're not leaving untill I say so."

"Why is she still working for you? "Caroline said through gritted teeth. "You killed her father and brother."

"She understands. An eye for an eye."

"What do you mean?"

"You people killed two of my warlocks, I killed two of yours."

"And the others that were killed?"

Klaus shrugged. "Vampires are expendable, witches and warlocks are not."

She stared at him for a moment, for some reason more annoyed than afraid. "What do you want from me?"

"Nothing from you, love." He walked over to her, stopping close enough for her to pick up his scent. It was wild and masculine, just like she remembered it, and it made her feel light-headed. "I'm just keeping you until my brother brings me the moonstone."

"That will never happen. Elijah doesn't care about me."

"No, but others do. And I'm counting on them to make his life miserable until he gives in."

"Which means I could be staying here for weeks, you jackass!"

"I know." There was that smile again. "I'm quite excited about this, too."